Also called stock-free farming, vegan-organics is a system which avoids all artificial chemical products (synthetic fertiliser, pesticides, growth regulators), genetically modified organisms, animal manures and slaughterhouse by-products (blood, fish meal, bone meal, etc).
DIVA employs the word 'veganiculture' to reflect the integration of vegan-organics, permaculture techniques free of domestic animals, and the cross-cultural adoption of veganism as a dietary and lifestyle choice where possible around the world.
NEW DATABASE FOR ANIMAL FREE AGRICULTURE - OVER 1700 REFERENCES
The Vegan-Organic Network, in collaboration with Vegatopia, are pleased to announce a new database of over 1700 scholarly references related to the science, practice and benefits of animal free agriculture: http://www.vegatopi a.org/bibliograp hy.html
The database will be immensely useful for those with a research or practitioner interest in animal free agriculture, including growers, government, NGOs, academics and students. The database includes full academic references for every entry. Most entries are also annotated with summary notes and key quotations.
The database is the work of the late Dave of Darlington. Dave was a vegan-organic grower in Durham who made a life work of studying the benefits of animal free agriculture in relation to its implications for world peace and ecology. As part of this, he compiled many references and related information. Dave, a gentle, modest man died in May 2008.
Phil Sleigh of the Vegan-Organic Network kindly took over responsibility for the database and has converted it into the Excel spreadsheet and html versions available from the above link. For queries, comments or corrections, contact Phil at von@sleigh.me. uk
-ENDS- Notes to Editor (1) Founded in 1996, the Vegan-Organic Network is an ambitious charity with an international network of active supporters. It aims to research and promote vegan-organic (stockfree) methods of agriculture and horticulture so that clean, green, cruelty-free, food becomes widely available. It publishes a magazine "Growing Green International" and advice leaflets. There is also a free advice service for members of the public, home growers, smallholders and farmers. The Network organises farm walks, allotment and garden visits and volunteer placements on stockfree holdings. VON's stockfree organic standards inspected by the Soil Association are available for farmers and growers who wish to grow produce in the most ethical and environmentally- friendly way. The stockfree organic symbol is the consumer's guarantee of "organic plus" food.
(2) Founded in 2008, Vegatopia is an online resource dedicated to promoting ethical veganism through academic research and teaching and through fostering collaboration between vegan activists, NGOs, academics and others.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Sally Ford - Press Officer 01584 872224 media@veganorganic. net 18 November 2009 ref. S1019
Registered charity number 1080847 A company registered in England number 3869080
NEWSFLASH! The BC Organic Network is hosting a webinar not to be missed! Visit their website to register by midnite, Nov.11 (click here for further info)
November 12 - Stock Free Organic Farming - 8:30 pm (PST) By using crop rotations, fertility building green manures and sustainable agricultural practices, Iain Tolhurst of Tolhurst Organic Produce, Oxfordshire, UK, farms without any animal inputs, such as manures or animal byproducts. This successful vegetable box scheme producer (the UK equivalent of our CSA) provides more than 400 boxes/week of produce using 90% of his own produce and does so with a very low carbon footprint. Iain's webinar will discuss his stockfree farm, the rotations they use, how biodiversity is managed for pest and disease control, and their marketing structure. He will also show how they have developed a low carbon footprint and the development of carbon sequestration within a farm cropping system.
BIO: Iain Tolhurst is an independent organic horticulture consultant specializing in advice and training in horticultural business development, vegetable box schemes, with a specialization in Stockfree Organic systems. He is a practicing organic vegetable producer on 18 acres and has been a Soil Association symbol holder since 1976 specializing in supplying organic vegetables through his own box scheme.
Iain’s advisory career began in 1984 as senior horticultural advisor with Elm Farm Research Centre. He has an extensive knowledge of all aspects of organic production and its markets, research and standards development. He has been involved with many national and international organic projects in more than 12 countries.
Iain’s own farm is used extensively for demonstration purposes with visitors from all over the world. A range of seminars are held during the year as well as specific farm tours for individuals or groups. He works closely with a group of clients delivering on farm advice and specializes in a “systems approach” to deal with the problems of fertility, pests and diseases. He currently works through a number of organic organizations and producer groups, is chairman of Thames Organic Growers and founding member of the Organic Growers Alliance.
Publications include “Growing Green” written jointly with Jenny Hall and an extensive range of papers and articles in various organic journals.
There are a wide variety of reasons why farmers choose veganic techniques, including ethical and environmental considerations, consumer demand, and the availability of fertilizers. Many of these reasons will also apply to gardeners. (information borrowed from the Veganic Agriculture Network [please visit LINK on the right]
By adding organic plant-based materials to the soil, the microorganisms within the soil can flourish, and enhance the soil structure and fertility of your land.
Compared to farms that produce their own fertilizer by using animals, maintaining fertility through plant-based techniques can save time and increase the amount of usable land.
For farmers and gardeners who are interested in animal protection, veganic growing is a perfect way to combine your ethics with your agriculture, since this system of growing food does not use any pesticides or animal products.
Veganic standards encourage the biodiversity of free-living animals and native plant species, and the environmental conservation of the farmer’s holding.
Animal-based fertilizers, like manure and blood meal, often come from animals that were not raised organically. They may have been exposed to chemicals, GMO feed, hormones, and antibiotics. Veganic growers can maintain fertility on their own holding using completely organic plant-based techniques, ensuring that the entire cycle of agriculture is 100% organic.
Visit the LINKS column on the right for an indepth look at these topics and others.
Robert Hart was a pioneer in the growing movement of veganic agriculture. These two short video clips of Robert explain the basic principles of his 'forest gardening' method, which has inspired a whole movement of truly sustainable stock-free/plant-based growing on small-scale organic holdings.
Forest Gardening: Cultivating an Edible Landscape, by Robert Hart
Plants For a Future: Edible & Useful Plants for a Healthier World, by Ken Fern
Growing Green: Animal-Free Organic Techniques, by Jenny Hall and Iain Tolhurst
NOTE:Stock-free growing is NOT for vegans and vegetarians only! The advantages of using green manure instead of animal based manures make veganic agriculture an attractive option for any and all growers. Those of us working on local food sustainability issues will find, however, that it is also an inclusive way to build/maintain community. Vegans are ethically opposed to the use of animal products, so avoiding the unnecessary use of animal manure in community garden projects is inclusive of vegans, as well as omnivores who may not share the same ethical concerns about animal products.
Articles, Blog comments, Veganiculture pioneers, etc
"I feel very deeply about vegetarianism and the animal kingdom. It was my dog Boycott who led me to question the right of humans to eat other sentient beings." -- Cesar Chavez, human rights champion and founder of the United Farm Workers... and fellow VEGAN!
RESISTANCE IS FERTILE
Denman Island Veganiculture Association is a fledgling, grassroots initiative founded by two vegans on Denman Island, BC to increase public awareness about the many merits inherent in stock-free gardening and farming. We have a small holding transitioning to veganic certification for our herbal product line, Sacred Harvest Botanicals. We promote the use of green manure fertilizers in place of animal manures and other animal byproducts. We welcome association with other gardeners or farmers in our bio-region and elsewhere who are also choosing to move beyond animal-based permaculture models to stock-free growing in compassionate response to the problems of global warming, environmental pollution, world hunger, and unnecessary dependence upon non-human animals. (Visit us through www.fireweed.ca)